Les Misérables, the musical has become a classic, famous throughout the world. It has been performed and loved in over 70 cities world-wide. In 1862, Victor Hugo wrote one of the most powerful and intense stories ever in Western literature, Les Misérables. It is a magisterial work which is rich in both character portrayal and meticulous historical description. His brilliant work has since been further recognised by Boublil & Schönberg’s fantastic musical adaptation. A timeless score by Boublil-Schönberg-Kretzmer, with magnificent ballads, anthems and everything else.

Libretto

The show starts in 1815, Digne. Jean Valjean is being released on parole after nineteen years on the chain gang. Javert issues him his yellow ticket of leave. It is here that we discover that Valjean had been imprisoned for stealing a loaf of  bread for his sister's starving child.

The Bishop of Digne takes him and kindly gives him food and drink and a place to stay. Valjean, embittered  from the years of hardship repays the generous Bishop by stealing some silver. Valjean gets caught by the police and is brought back before the bishop, who sets him free by telling the police that the silver was his gift to him, in addition he gives Valjean, two silver candlesticks.

"You must use this precious silver and become an honest man"

"God has raise you out of darkness, I have bought your soul for God" 

Bishop, Prologue

Valjean repents for what he has done and decides to start a new. Eight years on 1823, Montreeuil-Sur-Mer, Valjean has change his name to Monsieur Madeleine, and through dedication and hard work has risen to Mayor. We are here introduceed to Fantine , one of his factory workers. She gets thrown out of work when a fight breaks out between the workers and her, as it is discovered that she has a illegitimate child.

She turns to prostitution to support her child, Cossete. She gets into a fight with  a prospective customer who is  displeased with her. This leads to the arrival of Javert who is about to arrest her,  when Valjean steps in and demands that she be taken to hospital for her injuries.

When Valjean, the Mayor, supposedly an old man, rescues a man pinned down by a runaway cart, Javert is reminded of Jean Valjean, criminal he had been all those years. He tells the Mayor of a 'Jean Valjean' he has recently captured and is about to imprison. Valjean realising that Javert has been mistaken by this man, is unable to allow an innocent man go to prison in his place, he therefore reveals himself to Javert.

At hospital, Valjean promises the dying Fantine to find and look after her daughter Cossette. He escapes from Javert to forfill his promise to Fantine.

1823, Montfermeil, Valjean pays off the Thénadiers for Cosette. She had been staying with them for some time and had been constantly abused. Their young daughter, Eponine on the other hand had been treated with great care all along.

1832, Paris, there is great unrest in the city, a group of idealistic students prepare to revolt. Marius, one of the students falls in love with Cossette, and Eponine, the Thénadier's daughter who is secretly in love with him, reluctantly agrees to help him find Cosette.

The death of General Larmarque, the only man left in the government who cares for the poor, sparks of the revolution the students were preparing for.

Meanwhile, Marius is brought to Valjean's house by Eponine to meet Cosette. When the Thénadier gang tries to rob Valjean's house, Eponine crys for help to alert the family . Valjean is convinced that it was Javert who was lurking  outside his house in search of him and decides to flee the country.    

One Day More! describes how every one is feeling, Valjean, Javert, Cosette, Eponine, Marius, Thénadier and the students.

The students begin to  build the barricade, Marius sends Eponine with a letter for Cosette. The letter is intercepted at the Rue Plumet by Valjean. He reads the letter, discovers Cosette's love for Marius and sends off to the barricade  in search of Marius. Meanwhile, Javert has been  discovered as a traitor at the barricades and Eponine, returns to the barricade to be with Marius, however she gets shot on the way and dies in the arms of Marius.

Valjean arrives at the barracades to join them in battle. There is an attack on the barracade, and after the attack, Valjean is given Javert to do whatever he pleased. Instead of killing him, he secretly sets him free.

On the second attack, all the rebels including the leader, Enjorlas is killed. Valjean esapes into the sewer with unconcious Marius on his back. On emerging from the sewer, he once again runs into Javert, who wants to arrest him for his past crimes. He begs Javert to allow him to bring Marius to hospital, and promises to return.

Javert reluctantly lets him go. He is after that disgraced and confused with himself  

"How can I allow this man, to hold a dominion over me, this desparate man who I have hunted, He gave me my life, he gave me freedom"

"I should have parished by his hand, It was his right"

"Instead I live..but live in hell"

Javert, Javert's Suicide

Marius recovers in Cosette's care, unaware who had rescued him. Valjean, discloses to Marius the true identity of his past, and makes him promise never to tell Cosette. He insists that he has to go away from them for the sake of their safety.

Soon, Marius and Cosette get married, and on the wedding night, from Thénadier, Marius learns that it was Valjean who had saved him from the barricades. He goes with Cosette to visit the dying Jean Valjean, and it is here that Cosette learns the whole truth of her life. Valjean dies joining the spirits of Fantine, Eponine and all those who died at the barricades.

"They will live again in freedom, in the garden of the Lord" Company, Epilogue

Keith Png